Airless tires, also known as non-pneumatic tires, are innovative tire designs that do not require air to function. Bridgestone airless tire technology features a unique spoke structure designed to support the weight of a vehicle, effectively eliminating the need to periodically refill the tires with air.
Airless tires are engineered to do everything traditional pneumatic (air-filled) tires do, without relying on air pressure. While conventional tires need compressed air to keep their shape and cushion you from bumps, airless tires use a tough, flexible spoke structure made from recyclable materials.
That means no more checking your air pressure, worrying about punctures, or dealing with unexpected flats. Airless tires can't lose air and stand apart from solid rubber or foam-filled tires by offering better ride comfort, predictable handling, and impressive durability for everyday and specialized drives.
Their design eliminates the need for air while ensuring stability, comfort, and long-lasting performance. To understand how they achieve this, let’s look at the essential elements that make up their structure:
With airless tires, you never have to worry about your tires leaking because non-pneumatic tires have no air to leak. For most drivers, this feature will sound nothing short of revolutionary. When you run over a sharp object in the road, you won’t have to worry about a flat tire because tires without air can’t go flat. An end to the days of changing a tire on the highway shoulder would be welcome to drivers everywhere.
Since you won’t be changing or repairing a flat, you don’t need to carry a spare. Just like cars using run-flat tires, this feature could free up trunk space. No spare also means less weight and less weight means better fuel economy.
Say goodbye to air-pressure checks, valve replacements, and compressor costs. Airless tires never need inflating—saving you approximately 5–10 hours a year for personal cars.
About 90% of energy loss from tire rolling resistance comes from the tire shape flexing as you drive. By simplifying the structure of the tire, Bridgestone was able to minimize the energy loss in these “air free concept tires.” As a result, these tires have the same level of low rolling resistance as Bridgestone pneumatic fuel efficient Ecopia tires, contributing to reductions in CO2 emissions.
The airless concept tire is one of the initiatives aimed toward Bridgestone’s long-term vision of the use of sustainable materials. The materials used in the tire are recyclable, contributing to the efficient use of resources. No part of a non-pneumatic tire ever needs to go in the garbage, which goes hand-in-hand with Bridgestone’s effort to create a “cradle-to-cradle” system in which all tires are first recycled and then factory-refashioned into new tires. Airless tires will be among the first for which this process is a reality.
This approach delivers what really matters—mobility that helps both drivers and the planet.
In 2013, Bridgestone unveiled its second-generation air-free concept. This non-pneumatic tire improved load-bearing capacity, environmental design, and driving performance. As mobility needs changed, we expanded our focus beyond safety and recyclability to significantly enhance ride comfort. By leveraging digital simulation and our deep knowledge of traditional tires, we evolved the structure to better disperse strain across various vehicle types.
The third generation marks a major leap forward, utilizing advanced materials that are both strong and flexible. Using high-tech simulations, we’ve refined the design to handle diverse environments and control structural stress.
Today, "AirFree" is about more than just a product; it’s about providing social value. With a mission to support local community mobility through sustainable and safe technology, we have officially begun public road testing to bring this innovation to the real world.
Bridgestone is advancing development of the air-free concept, tires are a more environmentally friendly product than existing tires and aims to bring about commercial use in a wide range of vehicles as soon as possible.
Bridgestone believes that through effective resource usage and efficient operations alongside CO2 emissions from improved fuel efficiency, as part of its aim to achieve a balance between its business and the environment, it can continue to offer attractive products to its consumers far into the future. Bridgestone will continue to implement multiple technological innovations to help bring about a more sustainable society.